Fancy A Holiday For Free?

Forget forking out on expensive trips abroad, get your travel fix on a shoestring with these brilliant money-saving holiday ideas

Home Exchange

This home-swap site offers properties across 154 countries. Its top 10 destinations are the US, France, Spain, Italy, Canada, the UK, the Netherlands, Denmark, Australia and Germany, while Brazil, New Zealand and Mexico are growing in popularity. Seventy-five per cent of its 47,000 members worldwide agree that 'most people are trustworthy'. Members holiday for longer than they would if paying for traditional accommodation. Subscription costs £100 for 12 months. Visit homeexchange.com for more information.

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House Sitting

From country houses in the Australian bush to a charming home in Florence, Italy, with four dogs, this website off ers fabulous properties, often with pets to look after. It can work particularly well for families looking for a large house to holiday in. If you can be flexible on your destination and dates, the more choice you'll have. With more than 2,000 houses, registration costs £14.99 per month for three months, or £5.99 peer month for an annual plan. Visit trustedhousesitters.com for more information.

House Carers

House Carers lists house-sits around the world from Australia to Zambia, as well as here in the UK. House sitters can register for an unpaid membership in order to set up a profile and receive email notifications of house-sit opportunities. To contact homeowners directly, you need to sign up for a full membership, which costs £30 per year. Visit housecarers.com for more information.

Couchsurfing

This global phenomenon harnesses the basic premise that there are friendly folk around the globe to let you in on their world, with a free place to stay and someone to show you the local sights and even take you to parties. Registration is free and you don't have to over your sofa in return, though this adds to the camaraderie and fun. Visit couchsurfing.com

House Swap

HomeLink is over 60 years old and is a reliable house-swap site with 13,500 properties in 80 countries. The properties range from average to very exclusive. Non members can browse the houses but not contact members. Annual membership costs £115 for unlimited use of the home database and as many exchanges as you want. Visit homelink.org.uk